Steam-accumulator control



I oitf. 23, I928.

' C. H. SMOOT STEAM AQCUMULATOR CONTROL Filed Aug. 15, 1925 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

- UNITED STATES enemas n. smoor, or MAPLEWQOD', ,lvnwannsny.

STEEAM-ACCUMULATOR con'rnon Application filed August 15, 1925. Serial No. 50,519.

The present application is a continuatio n in part of my rior application filed June 9, t 925, Serial 35,952. Thisinventi'on relates to steam accumulators used for storing the heat of waste steam such as the exhaust of high pressure engines, in a tank of hot water, to the end that the energy so stored may be drawn 'ofl' at some lower pressure for other uses, as for example supplying steam to water gas generators. A pressure regulator responslve to the delivery pre'ssuregoverns the amount of steam flowing-from the accumulator so that the delivery pressure will be held approx1- mately constant. When the supply of steam from the accumulator falls short of the demand, it is desirable to supplement it with steam from high pressure source until the accumulator is again able-to meetthedemand. L It is further desirable that the controlling means for regulating the, draft of steam from the accumulator be connected with the controlling means for admitting high pressure steam, to the end that high pressure steam will not be drawn uponuntil the accumulator supply has reached a pre-. determined minimum and then only in. suflici'ent; amount to make up the deficiency of the accumulator, and further that upon" the accumulator regaining its power to supply the demand the high pressure supply will be -proportionately discontinued and shut olf altogether when the accumulatorv supply rises above the said predetermined minimum.

' The object is to insure that no waste of high pressure steam will occur when the'accumulator is able of itself to supply the demand. It is further desirable in case the supply-to the accumulator exceeds thedemand to such .an amount that the pressure in the 'aecumulater rises to a predetermined maximum, that a relief valve shall be opened to the atmosphere toprevent any further increase in the delivery pressure.

Myinvention comprises a combination of linkages that will, upon a rise in pressure in the'delive i e" automaticall close in- W P y rod 33 guided at 34 succession the hig pressure valve, the low 4 pressure valveand finallyon a continuation ofpressurense open a relief valve in the delivery pipe tional view of The accompanying drawing shows a secapparatusdesigned to carry .out the invention.

close the same.

which isa stop valve v3. 4 is a. relief valve which may be an-ordinary safety valve held closed by a-weight or "a spring-against the I steam pressure. .6 is a low pressure regulating valve controlling the flow of steam from the accumulator delivery pipe 2 to the pipe 7 which serves to conduct the steam to any,

suitable means of consumption. From the pipe 7 a pipe8 leads to a chamber 9 having a diaphragm 10. A rod 11 connected to the diaphragm is articulated to the end of a lever 12 pivoted at 13. A'spring 36, the tension of which is adjustable by nut 37-on screw ,38, gives a means of adjustment to regulate the loading for the low pressure.

The other endof this lever is articulated at 14 to a rod 15 that is'clamped to a transverse low pressure valve 6. The other end-of the' lever 19 is pivoted at 23 to a rod 24 articulated at its other-en'dto a lever 25 that operates a high pressure valve 26. A weight or other suitable means 27 is so connected with the low pressure valve 6 as to tend-to I A fixed stop 28 is providedto arrest the motion of the valve when it is fully open. A still larger weight or equivalent means 29 is carried by the high pressure valve 26 in such a way as to tend to close the same. The weight 29 by its excess over the weight 27 or by being connected to a longer arm of the rod 17 pulls'on the then if stillfurther motion takes place commence to open the high pressure valve 26. The rod '17 is guided in a fixed guide at 30 and has an abutment at-31 secured to 1t, which abutment provides a mean where-' the lever 19 than the ,valve- '6, insures that when lever 19, is will first operate the low pressure valve 6 until the same is .fully open and will by the member 16 may'move the rod-17 wlthin certain limits.

The relief valve 4 is shown with a lever 32 operating a connecting and having a stop secured to it at 35 whereby it also may be moved by the reciprocating member 16 withincertain limits. A check valve 5, may be used to-prevent the high passing into the accumulator. V 4

The operationv of the apparatus is as fol- 1lows:-Upon the demand for steam in the pipe 7 being increased, a diminution In pres' pressure steam" constant until the said valve is fully open As the rodsure in chamber 9" will ensue, which will cause the lever 12 to move in such a way as to shift the member 16' until, it comes in engagement 'withoutabutment 31 on rod 17. The motion of rod 17,by moving lever 19 using thehmechanism with weight 29 as a fulcrum, will pull "on rod 21 and open the low pressure valve '6. As the demand 'increases the valve 6 will continue to open, keeping the pressure in pipe 7 substantially and rests against the stop 28. 21' can then move no further, it in turn becomes the fulcrum for the lever 19 and further movement of the member 16 will result in. a pull on the rod 24'and an opening of the high pressure valve 26. At this point, steam which thus far has been drawn -maximum the furthermovement ofthe diaphragm 10 will, by causing the member 1-6 to impinge on abutment 35, move rod 33 and open the relief valve 4 to the atmosphere to hold said valve closed.

tion between the sequential events and that the sequence maybe further extended to the operation of the relief valve.

Iclaim: In combination with a steam accumulator, a delivery pipe leading therefrom, a control mechanism' for regulating the pressure of 'steam in the delivery pipe comprising a low pressure valve regulating the supply to said pipe from the-accumulator, a high pressure valve regulating the supply of high pressure steam to said pipe, arelief valve for open- I ing a connection from said delivery pipe to a lower pressure, means responsive to the pressure in the delivery pipe, a loading t means thereforand linkages connecting the three valves and "the pressure responsive means comprising an intermediate member engaging in sequence .the high pressure valve, the low pressure 'valve and he relief valve when moving response to i reasing pressure and inopposlte sequence when the pressure falls with a llmited movement between the said engagements, whereby as the pressure increases in the delivery pipe the high pressure valve willfirst be closed, then the low pressure valve and finally the relief I valve opened. against the force of a weight 36' which tends oHAR EsnjsMooT. i 

